General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

153. Sanders is in a complicated situation.

Sat May 31, 2014, 10:09 AM

May 2014

It takes a lot of money and clout and person power to win and keep a Senate seat, the kind that typically comes from having one of the two largest political parties and their employees and volunteers behind you, and their popular pols like Bubba or Obama campaigning for you when the going gets really tough for you.

When Sanders ran for Mayor of Burlington, Vt., he had no party behind him, yet he kept winning .At one point, the Democrats and Republicans were both so determined to oust him that they both backed a single candidate against him. (Sadly, not the only time something like that has happened.) And he won against both massive machines anyway.

Then, he got to the House. But a Senate seat is tougher than a House seat--and he won that, too. But, fundraising and fighting both parties all your career ain't easy, especially if you are over sixty. In any event, Bernie has made a bargain with Democrats: He votes with them on procedural matters and they don't run anyone against him in Vermont. So says wiki, anyway.

Is that all that is to the deal? I don't know. Probably all. But, I do know that I don't really hear Bernie criticizing both sides a lot. He confines his negative remarks to Republicans, even though I know he has to be seeing faults with both sides. So, I don't know how independent he really is, or how really independent he can be if he wants to keep his Senate seat.

Does that reflect his innermost thoughts? I don't know that either. How could I? Maybe his ideology has changed as he aged. That often happens. Maybe he's just tired of fighting them both. Who can know?

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"The hard left"... you know what is so damn comical about this statement? [View all] nadinbrzezinski May 2014 OP

The scariest thing you wrote: CrispyQ May 2014 #1

I know nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #5

hard left is a slur in my opinion equal to tea party roguevalley May 2014 #59

Except that tea party is self chosen nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #60

true that. roguevalley May 2014 #61

No Labels. They expressly equate, not the hard left, but traditional Democrats, to Teabaggers. merrily May 2014 #84

Any thoughts on what can be done about that? merrily May 2014 #83

" no organized opposition " the Left has no fight. Hotler May 2014 #121

+1,000 malaise May 2014 #168

The only "left" that is left, is that which is "left behind" Javaman May 2014 #2

Yeah, I say that all the time too: "There is no Left left." Raksha May 2014 #8

There is a left, but the PTB, including media, pretend there isn't. merrily May 2014 #85

you nailed it, Nadin. hobbit709 May 2014 #3

thought that is what you got if you cut one of those ed pills in half dembotoz May 2014 #4

Name calling is all they have. bemildred May 2014 #6

Well that, and money and the country's political power. merrily May 2014 #86

No, that's what they get. bemildred May 2014 #115

And, after they get them, they have them. And they got them, keep getting them, now have them and merrily May 2014 #116

Which is how they have set things up for themselves. nt bemildred May 2014 #117

Which is my point. And we helped. At least I did. merrily May 2014 #118

Well, I can say I've been voting against it all of my life. bemildred May 2014 #120

Don't know your definition of voting against the corporatists, merrily May 2014 #123

I've had no use for Biden since the Anita Hill hearings. bemildred May 2014 #129

I did not think you were suggesting that. merrily May 2014 #133

I mostly vote Dem, because that's all there is most of the time, that I can stomach. bemildred May 2014 #137

Why would change for the better come from either the top or the bottom if merrily May 2014 #142

Have a nice day, I have to go. nt bemildred May 2014 #143

Thanks. You, too. merrily May 2014 #144

Yeah, tell me about it! I regularly describe my politics as "hard left" or "far left" Raksha May 2014 #7

Please don't label yourself incorrectly. merrily May 2014 #87

I agree, in many ways War Horse May 2014 #161

I didn't realize "anarcho-socialist" was extreme. Raksha Jun 2014 #210

It shows how powerful words=and the Big Lie strategy are, that people even label themselves merrily Jun 2014 #221

Can what was "hard left" in the 1930s even exist in this country any more? Raksha Jun 2014 #209

I am not advocating for violent overthrow of government or even hard left. merrily Jun 2014 #219

Good post, spot on laundry_queen May 2014 #9

I was shocked at a dinner some years ago. JDPriestly May 2014 #37

I think the education extended into the early 80s. blackspade May 2014 #42

That's a crazy story laundry_queen May 2014 #43

Yes. I get why schools are doing such a bad job teaching civics. JDPriestly May 2014 #47

Do a youtube search on... awoke_in_2003 May 2014 #51

That is why the plan of NCLB was to focus first on reading and math and DebJ May 2014 #81

Just wait until you talk to someone educated after merrily May 2014 #88

Yes and no. Please see Reply 85. merrily May 2014 #95

Exactly. But it's used by the rightwingers here busily recalculating "the center" to fit their villager May 2014 #10

It's used by the right wingers. Iggo May 2014 #11

As soon as someone calls this old mainstream FDR/LBJ Democrat "Hard Left", bvar22 May 2014 #28

AND, they are HERE, Enthusiast May 2014 #33

...and ignored by MIRT FiveGoodMen May 2014 #38

Left, right, whatever. Maedhros May 2014 #46

Those that accept warrantless, blanket surveillance do not deserve to be free. L0oniX May 2014 #66

If OUR TRIBE is in power, we will be FREE. Maedhros May 2014 #74

It would seem that the NSA is not the only liar. L0oniX May 2014 #75

I'm sorry, I'm being a bit snarky. Maedhros May 2014 #76

* L0oniX May 2014 #77

Is it really that based on ideas? Or is more loyalty to Democrats and, for some, mostly to Obama? merrily May 2014 #90

We can only deal with new trolls or those under 100 posts. the rest are up to the admins. hrmjustin May 2014 #152

They *are* MIRT, aren't they? villager May 2014 #177

Dino's ...centrists ...3rd way ...corporatists ...lovers of the rich ...what's the difference. L0oniX May 2014 #65

Not only rightwingers here. They are only faint echoes of what is going on in the real world. merrily May 2014 #89

The Hard Left, in conjunction with the Liberal Media... OnyxCollie May 2014 #12

It died pre-60s - TBF May 2014 #13

Why I wrote the last version nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #23

Agree - people making 20-40K TBF May 2014 #24

Polls show almost every individual has his or her own definiton of "middle class." merrily May 2014 #96

The hard left may have, but the left is alive and well. Please see Reply 85. merrily May 2014 #91

Yes! You are correct (to state the obvious) houston_radical May 2014 #14

The Biggest Right Wing Ccarmona May 2014 #22

Clinton had 3 big issues - TBF May 2014 #25

Don't forget "Welfare Reform" accompanied by the proclamation that, bvar22 May 2014 #30

Yep. That was a gem. merrily May 2014 #94

The real leaders who appeal to the working people of America seem to die young.. mountain grammy May 2014 #151

DOMA and DADT were not exactly liberal, either. merrily May 2014 #93

I might have said repeal of Glass Steagall, but Obama's FCC put the nail in the coffin of the merrily May 2014 #92

Excellent post. suffragette May 2014 #15

knr frylock May 2014 #16

K&R Solly Mack May 2014 #17

Big K&R Phlem May 2014 #18

exactly right. nashville_brook May 2014 #19

Tragically true Glorfindel May 2014 #20

K&R valerief May 2014 #21

Mainstream-Center FDR/LBJ Democrat here, bvar22 May 2014 #26

You have not nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #27

Me too. Enthusiast May 2014 #32

K&R#70 n/t bobthedrummer May 2014 #29

K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast May 2014 #31

Nailed it. Scuba May 2014 #34

it's like the "purity purge" they claimed to fear 2006-8: with Capitol Hill blue MisterP May 2014 #35

I know some of those names, but not all their agendas. However, as to Lamont and Sestak, merrily May 2014 #97

MisterP has been paying attention! bvar22 May 2014 #176

in Spanish it's called "oficialismo" where party leaders grossly favor status-quo candidates MisterP May 2014 #184

So true. JDPriestly May 2014 #36

But but but...the far left gave the House to the Republicans!11! progressoid May 2014 #39

That was some funny shit. L0oniX May 2014 #68

The fact that neither of the 2 largest parties does what it should for Americans merrily May 2014 #98

Exactly correct. blackspade May 2014 #40

You are a traditional Democrat, period. Extreme left is a communist advocating violent overthrow merrily May 2014 #99

The irony is that I'm to the left of Sanders on a lot of thngs. blackspade May 2014 #147

Sanders is in a complicated situation. merrily May 2014 #153

I wasn't knocking him in the slightest! blackspade May 2014 #192

I didn't thinkyou were knocking him. merrily May 2014 #193

I gottcha! blackspade May 2014 #201

Good! merrily May 2014 #205

If you mean extreme left treestar May 2014 #41

So all of my propagandizing on DU has been in vain????? socialist_n_TN May 2014 #54

I'm definately an anti-capitalist blackspade May 2014 #202

Well if you haven't already, join us in the Socialist Progressives group.... socialist_n_TN Jun 2014 #214

Thanks! I'll check it out. blackspade Jun 2014 #216

Sorry, plenty of us have been labeled hard left or extreme left right here on DU by merrily May 2014 #100

k&r. The Third Way sycophants are a pathetic lot. nt antigop May 2014 #44

They are old "Reagan Democrats" or even Republicans... bvar22 May 2014 #175

and they probably benefit from the status quo. nt antigop May 2014 #188

BINGO! bvar22 May 2014 #189

yep stupidicus May 2014 #45

The Corporate sock puppets, Third Way types, work DU regularly. They keep trying to push the Left to blkmusclmachine May 2014 #48

I always chuckle when RW use "the far left" mikeysnot May 2014 #49

Good answer nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #50

I have not finished reading this thread yet, but I have read at least two posts by merrily May 2014 #101

I'm one of those who labels herself "hard left," Raksha Jun 2014 #212

In the 1930s, FDR, with help, created the New Deal, in which not only mainstream Democrats, but merrily Jun 2014 #218

Yet there are still a few "far leftists" out there....... socialist_n_TN May 2014 #52

I cannot read the future nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #53

http://www.dhs.gov/state-and-major-urban-area-fusion-centers merrily May 2014 #102

Especially hilarious since the "hard left" keeps using RW libertarians talking points. baldguy May 2014 #55

Yeah, that's posted a lot here and it's almost always total bs. merrily May 2014 #103

So, when we get posts in breathless, loving prose baldguy May 2014 #110

Take your innuendo and stick it somewhere. No one close to sane thinks I am rightist of any kind. merrily May 2014 #112

And yet, here we are dealing with all the RW bullshit attacks on Democrats baldguy May 2014 #186

Please refer to posts 103 and 110. merrily May 2014 #194

You can't defend the RW attacks on Democrats from the phony "hard left", so you don't try. baldguy May 2014 #195

LOL. Please refer to posts 103 and 110. They'd tell any half way sane person why I didn't bother. merrily May 2014 #196

Right. No sane person can defend the RW attacks on Democrats from the phony "hard left". baldguy May 2014 #197

Time to settle down, dear. I'm sure they'll be bringing your pudding soon. merrily May 2014 #198

Yes, Snowden & Greenwald are tedious. As is seeing their RW libertarian screeds rehashed on DU. baldguy May 2014 #200

LOL! Puglover Jun 2014 #215

Thanks! Feel free to use it whenever. merrily Jun 2014 #217

Does anyone still think that Marx's theory vlakitti May 2014 #56

That is WAY TOO MUCH inside baseball nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #57

We now lead the world in income inequality and at the highest point ever. merrily May 2014 #104

Graphical representation of nadinbrzezinski's nonsense ConservativeDemocrat May 2014 #58

Right wing nonsense of the same type treestar May 2014 #62

Absolutely agree ConservativeDemocrat May 2014 #73

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025024257#post103 merrily May 2014 #105

Giant fail. blackspade May 2014 #203

Lol TransitJohn Jun 2014 #211

A People's History Of The United States - by Howard Zinn L0oniX May 2014 #63

K&R woo me with science May 2014 #64

I saw somebody on another thread blame the "hard left" m-lekktor May 2014 #67

Shinseki resigned because Obama asked him to. merrily May 2014 #106

Facts do not matter to these people nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #122

Sorry, no clue about the thicker skin. merrily May 2014 #124

Ok a link might help nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #125

Respectfully, I don't think you can make that promise. merrily May 2014 #126

Given I cover politics, I think I can nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #127

Again, respectfully, I don't think covering politics merrily May 2014 #131

And I think that is a trait of high level pols nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #134

Yes, I got that the first time, but I don't think high level politicians are fungible, nor do I merrily May 2014 #140

Right wing toons aren't allowed on DU... Dr Hobbitstein May 2014 #145

You mean toons on the Editorial page of the Washington Post? nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #146

A right wing toon on the editorial page of the WaPo Dr Hobbitstein May 2014 #149

It is a cartoon nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #158

Yes, the Chinese hacking thing is current events... Dr Hobbitstein May 2014 #160

So you are that delicate that we must hide from current cartoons nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #165

It's ok, you've openly admitted to being OK with GOP talking points and humor. Dr Hobbitstein May 2014 #185

Not exactly nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #191

Fuck the right wingers here who switched parties but kept their (R) values bobduca May 2014 #69

The RWers here are nowhere near as important as the RWers merrily May 2014 #108

All true bobduca May 2014 #164

Yes,and most of the so called Dems are... butterfly77 May 2014 #70

Great Thread raindaddy May 2014 #71

You welcome nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #80

There is NO Left in the mainstream media. RoccoR5955 May 2014 #72

K&R for more visibility. nt Mnemosyne May 2014 #78

You nailed it... elzenmahn May 2014 #79

K&R Joe Shlabotnik May 2014 #82

because half the drivers in this country don't understand to PULL FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION? Warren DeMontague May 2014 #107

Thank you, nadin, for a good OP. I was sorry to merrily May 2014 #109

"authoritarian" on the other hand refers to a very real phenomenon carolinayellowdog May 2014 #111

exactly, they trot out that false equivalence here all the time bobduca May 2014 #119

related to the false equivalency between `libertarian' and `Libertarian' carolinayellowdog May 2014 #132

That "swiftboating from the left" meme was a new low. Raksha Jun 2014 #213

I wrote a post about this: the attempt to discredit the word, "authoritarian." woo me with science May 2014 #148

well worth repeating your closing lines here carolinayellowdog May 2014 #150

Oh you and your little "facts" leftstreet May 2014 #166

Hard left? mgardener May 2014 #113

occupy needs to seek out the old hippies before they are gone. mopinko May 2014 #114

I am in search for a good ol' fashioned nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #128

But, once typed, how do you disseminate? Snail mail is subject to inspection, too. merrily May 2014 #157

There are ways. nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #159

K&R DeSwiss May 2014 #130

CNN Turbineguy May 2014 #135

Are you watching Aristegui on CNN Mexico? nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #136

I forgot the Turbineguy May 2014 #204

Sorry about that nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #208

If there is any "hard left" in the US, it's surely not the one I grew up with in the 60's. I think RKP5637 May 2014 #138

I feel helpless every day. It's like trying to shout at a giant boulder because it impedes progress Lint Head May 2014 #139

Let's face the truth here everyone... nyabingi May 2014 #141

We know that there is a far right element in this country vast-left-wing May 2014 #154

"The hard left" like "big labor" is, unfortunately, no longer a force in America mountain grammy May 2014 #155

Inigo Montoya is not the character that said that... Blanks May 2014 #156

wrong reddread May 2014 #163

Inigo said it cyberswede May 2014 #170

Yes, yes he was nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #171

I stand corrected. Blanks May 2014 #173

Not a problem nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #178

It's disappointing that I made such a blunder... Blanks May 2014 #180

It's ok nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #182

WRONG bobduca May 2014 #172

Sometimes, it can be humbling at times. eom Blanks May 2014 #174

When I think "hard left" I think of the black blok types War Horse May 2014 #162

And they are not quite hard left either nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #167

Well, they more than often enough describe themselves as such War Horse May 2014 #169

I know I'm late for this thread. I'll comment. wyldwolf May 2014 #179

The problem is that this mythical nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #181

that's a fact wyldwolf May 2014 #183

But surrendering the language nadinbrzezinski May 2014 #190

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe May 2014 #187

I obviuosly had it wrong... pauliedangerously May 2014 #199

Yes our country has been drug sooo far to the right. oldandhappy May 2014 #206

To paraphrase burrowowl May 2014 #207

About the only thing that constitutes a "hard left" in the US Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #220